Today, D.C. United's Andy Najar played 90 minutes, in a friendly, for R.S.C. Anderlecht in a 4-2 victory over Dutch side SC Heracles Almelo. Najar is with Anderlecht for a one month loan, and will report back with D.C. United for preseason when his loan is complete.

In other news, D.C. United and the Columbus Crew announced today that the clubs will meet on January 26 for a preseason friendly. Both teams will be in Bradenton, Florida for Central Florida Soccer Spring Training.

Voting ends at 8:00 p.m. ET on Friday, January 11. Fans can vote up to 25 times per day.

2012 was a good year for D.C. Sports. D.C. United, the Washington Nationals, the Washington Capitals and the Washington Redskins each qualified for their respective post seasons with United reaching the Eastern Conference Final, the Nationals reaching game 5 of the National League Divisional Series and the Capitals finding their way into the Conference Semifinals. The Black-and-Red supports all D.C. Teams!

In a recent post on MLSsoccer.com, editors chose D.C. United as a team primed for a deeper playoff run in 2013, saying that with the return of a healthy Dwayne De Rosario, United could be a, "real title contender."

Perhaps just as compelling as a healthy De Rosario is the wealth of young talent in the Black-and-Red core. With an average age of 25, United is among the most youthful squads in MLS. But in this case, youth does not equal inexperience. United's roster boasts the 2012 MLS All Star MVP, 2012 MLS Best XI selection and 2009 MLS Rookie of the Year Runner-Up Chris Pontius (25) and three other Rookie of the Year finalists in just as many seasons: Nick DeLeon (22), emerging center midfield star Perry Kitchen (20), and 2012 Olympian and homegrown standout Andy Najar (19), the 2010 Rookie of the Year. Additionally, starting goalkeeper Bill Hamid (22) - the first D.C. United Acadmey product to sign directly with the first team – led all MLS netminders in saves percentage (78.6%) and registered the third-best GAA (1.03) in 2012.

With its captain back to full form and a young roster, who turned more than a few heads in 2012, United is indeed set to contend for the Cup in 2013.

With the announcement of new ownership in July of this year, D.C. United made a pledge to become a more global brand. As the year wound down, that commitment was evident.

D.C. United had reached new heights on and off the field. The team boasted the best home record in the league, and a return to the playoffs for the first time in five years. Off the field, D.C. United touched the lives of thousands of children through their community outreach efforts and through various camp programs.

But D.C. United's reach went far beyond their community and home fan base. The club saw growth in worldwide interest of the team. Fans emerged from 47 of the 50 states and 15 different countries to purchase gear from the Team Store, including an order that was shipped to the North Pole. North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming were the only states who did not receive shipments from D.C. United this year. Dwayne De Rosario jerseys were a hot item in Canada, but team merchandise was also shipped to a handful of European countries, China, Japan, and Australia.

With 2013 upon us, and a new season on the horizon, United reaches even further. Join us. Rise together.

Despite his teammates not naming him the "Best at FIFA" in this year's superlatives, Bill Hamid is one of D.C. United's FIFA enthusiasts. Recently he sat down with ESPN to talk about his playing style and how being a professional soccer player has helped him become better at the video game.

"You know at certain points when to cross when you see runners going. You know when to bring the keeper out when there’s a breakaway. Being a pro soccer player, you figure those things out easier," explained Hamid. Read the full article on ESPN now.

Yesterday, MLS and adidas unveiled the new official match ball for 2013. The adidas PRIME features a few updates from it's 2012 version, including a slightly new look and upgraded technology.

The updates make the PRIME more water resistant and increasingly more aerodynamic with a cutting-edge panel bonding technique. The ball features a matte finish with slight texture to help with ball control, while changes to the bladder help prevent air and shape loss across all weather conditions.

The PRIME keeps it's traditional MLS colors of green, blue and white, while it also still features the signature of League Commissioner Don Garber. The design change is in the shapes, which were changed to emulate the handles of the Philip F. Anschutz trophy.

D.C. United faces Houston on March 2, 2013 marking their first match with the new ball.